200r4 vs. 700r4 in 54 chevy

i have already searched for old threads found sone useful

i have a 54 chevy 210 2 door that i am in the middle of building

i will be dropping in a sbc 307 ,mild cam, headers,3x2 rochester setup,

i want to build this car as effecient as possible getting best mpg when possible it will be a daily driver and i do plan on driving long distances.

but also be able to have fun with it when i floor it

should i run a 200r4 or a 700r4 also what year cars have these without the electronic controls ,ecm connection?

 

With either transmission you want a 1987-91 core,these are non-computer and have all the upgrades for longevity,'86 and earlier had a lot of problems.Due to space constraints in your car I would go with the 200R4 contact www.transmissioncenter.net for parts to make the swap easier and call their tech line and talk to them for advice,Real good people.

 

thanks i will look into them

do you think i should use a shift kit?
or maybe just a heavier spring for 1-2?

 

found a guy on craigslist with a 700r4 for 300 bucks
tempting but i think ive decided i need a 200r4

 

I think the 700R4 is more plentiful and cheaper.

 

Not to mention stronger

 

whats the difference between a 200r-4 and 700r-4? does it take more h.p. to turn the 700r-4?

 

I think his combo will be fine with the 200r4. It fits in the car really well too. You can look at bowtieoverdrives.com for parts needed to get the lockup converter working, and if you need a converter. The overdrive is great on the highway but around town Id just keep it in "D" insted of "OD" , that way it wont go into 4th and you wont have to keep mashing the gas to get it to kick down, hurting your MPG.

 

The 200R4 has less "spin loss" - which is transmission speak for friction loss and inertia loss - so it will be better for fuel economy. Maybe more theoretical than significant....

 

Paxton blown and intercooled LT1 383 stroker, ca 700 hp 3.89 9 inch 200R4 with lockup converter = no problems.

 

wrong...

and wrong again...

the 700 needs as much work as a 200 to live behind a strong engine, either is fine behind a stock motor...

the 200r4 has a better first gear as well...

 

ok i think i will go to a junk yard find a 2004r hopefully anf buy a rebuild kit and a shift kit

what about lockup switch ive seen a few on ebay which one to buy? ive heard of the ones with the switch so you can turn it on or off is this really necessary? or can i just buy the cheaper automatic lockup kit and just do what 54bomb says about keeping it in D in town?
i need all info i can get here

 

Over the years I've seen folks debate which is stronger, and I think it's a tossup. You will find mid 9 second GN's with 200R4's but you can find 700R4's/4L60E's around there too.

 

the lockup is mandatory, or the rebuild will be. I've used the TCI kit with great success.... it an automatic one...

 

I have a manual lock up switch on the 200R4 and love it. I get to decide when it gets used (for example when it comes to 'play time'). Drops the rpm 150-200. If I have it locked the shifts are harder, so I use it out of town and on the Fwy, but in town I usually leave it switched off.

I will not use another 700R4 from choice, plus the 200R4 fits where a TH 350 does. This can safe you a lot of $$$ on frame modifications (1935-1940 Ford) and driveshaft shortening when substituting a 700R4 for a TH350. With the 200R4 you only have to move the trans mount about 1 3/4" further back - trans is same length as TH 350.

 

when i bought my car, i also got a 305/700r4 out of a caprice for 100. can't beat the price. n at matt frances has awire harness for a bout200. the way i look at it, use which ever one u find first or the cheapest. just my .02

 

well i am now having a hard time deciding
tis guy has a 700r4 locally for 300 bucks slighly used he said its built and has a 1200 dollar receipt for it.
i know the 2004r fits like a 350
and the 200 has a better first gear

is it really worth the effort to hunt down a 200 and rebuild it ?

when i can get this one for about the price of a rebubuild kit?

but im in the middle of my build andhavent gotten a drive shaft yet
so i guess the only things to worry about now are transmission and floor sheetmetal clearance?

 

mid 80's station wagons at the pic and pull here for $150 for the 200r4

 

people here tell me they have those"oddball" 2004r transmissions here at the local picknpull everyone wants a th350 or 400

but rebuild kit and shift kit about,TV,lockup, 300 bucks more or less
and i have to rebuild it i already have a whole pile or carbs,my engine to rebuild
and trannys can be a little intimidating
is the first gear in 700r4 that sad?
i havent asked the guy what went into the tranny but it could be possible first gear was replaced?

 

i'd be more worried about what needs to be done to the transmission tunnel for the 700 to fit. the 200 goes in pretty easy.

I doubt the 700 had the 1st gear replaced. it's not very common to do.

 

I had a 2004r in my 53 , "had" it left me sitting twice for stupid stuff. I picked it because it also had a lower Overdrive .63 I believe ... I have never had probs with 700R4 so I would go with the 700 or a 5 speed

 

yeah thats what im thinking myself how much bigger will the 700 be and im wondering how much if any i would need to cut into the tunnel....

 

We ran a mild 350/700R4 set up in my kid's old 79 Malibu. It was a great set up.
If you are running a 307, I'd be much more concerned with the rods stretching if you are running a cam and mill the heads then I would be of what tranny I'd be running.
Shift kits are great, I've used them and gotten some really sharp, crisp shifts especially going from 1st to 2nd but then again, make sure your engine can take it.

I had a build 307 with a 10:1 compression ration, 270 cam, head work etc.
If you plan on leaving the 307 stock, the difference between the 200 and 700 is negligible. That is, no big deal.

 

They are both very good transmissions. It's like which is better-a 289 or a 283? Be sure to get the 200 with the proper bellhousing patern.

 

Well it looks like yesterday and this morning it was 200R4 and this afternoon it's 700R4. Tomorrow who knows what it'll be? It sounds like you are mesmerized by $300 so if that's what's making you wet your pants - do it.

This sounds like a complete waste of fucking time giving this guy any advice.

 

hey thanks for all the advice

dont know much about tranny ,thus undecided

whatta dick!.....

just looing for the best bang for my buck and performance

 

Both transmissions are geared low in first and will pull quite well when the skinny pedal is vigorously applied. The difference will lie when they shift in to second gear. Second is geared higher on a 700 then it is a 200 which is going to make you kinda feel like you're falling flat once you come out of first. The gearing of the 200 in most applications is going to keep the engine working in it's powerband longer before going in to the gas sipping overdrive. $300 for a used trans is still a gamble. Just because he has a receipt doesn't mean that the builder was competent or the owner didn't abuse or neglect it. Also, just because you can afford a kit doesn't exactly guarantee a succesful install of said kit. I'm all for of doing a job yourself so that you can save some coin, but if you screw it up you'll have to buy yet another kit plus pay someone to install it.

I'd run the 200.

 

I think a 200R4 is 2.75 first gear, and a 700R4 is a 3.06 first gear? I'm too lazy to look it up right now.

 

Not to make this any harder on you but, what gears do you have the rear end? If they are too high ( like a 3.08 for example) you will need to get a new set, maybe a 3.73 or 4.10. The 4th gear overdrive is substantial. I can only talk from my experience , I had a 350, 200r4, 4.10 gears and a 215/75-15 tire and I was at 2200 rpms on the freeay, I also had too much cam and had no power at that rpm, hence why I would have to really rev it up to get any power, lots of stuff has to work together to make a happy driver. A little planning now will make it that much better down the road.

 

yes there is the possibility of me screwing up the rebuild chance I have to take I guess. I once rebuilt a t350 no prob. So I guess it's a 50/50

The rear end I just picked up is out of a 78 camaro not sure on the hearing though?!